Today’s special: Festival of food, wine

Barack Obama’s pastry chef and the co-founder of the world’s best restaurant are among a galaxy of global culinary giants on the menu for a major national festival next month.

Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork yesterday announced details of the country’s first literary festival celebrating food and wine, which has been dubbed the “Glastonbury of food festivals”.

Hosted by Irish food champion, cook, and author Darina Allen, Lit Fest (Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine), which runs from May 3-6, will feature more than 40 diverse events to tempt and treat gourmands, connoisseurs, and food and drink fans.

“We are thrilled with the buzz that the festival is generating not only in Ireland but all around the world,” she said.

“We have a stellar lineup of writers coming to Ballymaloe for the May weekend. Hopefully the weather will be better but it doesn’t matter as all the events will be indoors.”

Leading gastronomic stars, top chefs, and authors from all over the world are jetting in to take part.

Cookery demonstrations will be delivered by Indian food guru Madhur Jaffrey, Thai food genius David Thompson, and Mediterranean maestro Claudia Roden, and there will be a special talk on desserts by Bill Yosses, pastry chef to the White House.

Award-winning authors and past students of Ballymaloe Cookery School Tommi Miers, Stevie Parle, and Rachel Allen will reunite for a trip down memory lane and a cooking demonstration.

Wine events include readings and tasting tips by writers John Wilson, Tom Doorley, and Jancis Robinson.

TV chef Neven Maguire; vegetarian wizard Denis Cotter; and young chef Donal Skehan will trigger lively food debate alongside international superstars such as Alice Waters from the legendary Chez Panisse in California.

Food commentator John McKenna will discuss the Nordic food revolution with Claus Meyer, co-founder of Noma, which was voted best restaurant in the world in 2010 and 2011 by Restaurant magazine.

RTÉ’s Ella McSweeney, Suzanne Campbell, and British investigative journalist Joanna Blythman will discuss unsavoury happenings in the food industry with RTÉ’s Philip Boucher-Hayes, while historian and broadcaster John Bowman will host a question and answer session on topical food and wine issues.

Foraging walks, cheese and whiskey tastings, demonstrations on the art of fermentation, charcoal making, and gardening tips are among a series of events that will take place as part of a fringe festival, which will also cater for children, with a children’s writing workshop, a scavenger hunt, and cupcake decorating events planned.

- Tickets and details from litfest.ie